Judge Rigsby decides to end Army career

With a 16-year-old son heading into a senior year in high school and the potential for another deployment to the Middle East, Vallejo native and superior court judge Col. Robert Rigsby decided to end his extensively-decorated U.S. Army career.

The memories were plentiful as 250 attended Rigsby's retirement party June 6 at his Washington, D.C., office, and another 250 as family and friends gathered at the home of Rigsby and his wife, fellow judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby.

The excitement waned, however, with the death of Philmore Graham last Thursday.

"It all comes back to Mr. Graham," said Rigsby, mentally and emotionally juggling the pride in his own accomplishments and the passing of the man he said was responsible for his remarkable career in the Army and in the judicial system.

"I remember when I was a kid and my father worked at Cal-Maritime. I saw the officers were the people who stood out and led people," said Rigsby. "I wanted to be that and I didn't know how to be that. I didn't see any black officer, but I wanted to lead."

Credit Graham who led Rigsby to the Jr. ROTC at Vallejo High School.

"It was Graham who said, 'You have to take the initiative to be a leader,'" recalled Rigsby. "He said, 'Make yourself stand out in a good way. Learn everything before everybody else did.'"

Rigsby did so well, he received a scholarship by the Army to attend law school.

"Mr. Graham told me I could have a great career in the military," Rigsby said.

And did he.

Rigsby was nominated by President George W. Bush to be Associate Judge of the District of Columbia Superior Court in 2002. He served as Corporation Counsel, overseeing 225 lawyers and a $48 million budget. He was Deputy Corporation Counsel, Assistant Untied States Attorney and was U.S. Army judge Advocate General's Corps.

In 2009, Rigsby made history, becoming the first sitting judge from D.C. and first military judge in the Army to deploy full-time in an active war, receiving a Bronze Star Medal.

Now, he's a retired Army reservist colonel, able to focus on family. No more weekends and holidays away. But never without the wisdom of his parents and lifetime mentor.

Rigsby recalled when he became a prosecutor his law school that he was handed a case barely three months after school.

"I was scared out of my mind," he said. "I always remember what my parents would say. 'Pretend like you're back at church talking to the congregation. Make eye contact.' And I did just that."

Again, the late Viola and Roger Rigsby and Graham laid the foundation.

"The lessons I learned from a father with a third-grade education, a nurse, and a nuclear engineer (Graham) go very, very far when you're scared to death," Rigsby said, remembering when he was on the verge of a six-month assignment in the Sinai as a junior officer. He kept telling his father he would plea to get stationed at Ft. Ord to be closer to his parents.

"My dad said, 'Boy, you have to go experience the world. We didn't raise you and (his brother) Ricky to stay in Vallejo.'"

Experience the world Rigsby did. Almost all of it. Egypt. Korea. Japan. Iraq. Afghanistan.

"The enemy was around all the time," Rigsby said. You never knew what was going to happen. You're always mindful of the war. It's never far from you."

A simple meeting on Sept. 21, 1991, happened to alter Rigsby's life. That's when he met "this cute, little lawyer with a large law firm."

Two months later, he proposed to Anna Blackburne — and received orders to deploy to Turkey.

Rigsby said he was told by an officer that "If the Army wants you to have a wife, they would have issued you a wife. She'll have to get used to separation."

Rigsby eventually left active duty to become a federal prosecutor "and I started getting promoted more and more."

And never regretted it.

"For 33 years of wearing the uniform, I feel blessed," he said. "I was so proud to put it on every single day of my life. I felt I made a contribution and felt the Army gave me an opportunity few would give to an inner city boy. I am grateful to serve my country."

It wasn't always easy. Rigsby was constantly in harm's way as a military judge stationed in the Middle East for six months. And, back in 2010, he was grounded for six months with a rare muscular disorder. He still feels the effects.

Rigsby was partially paralyzed laying in a Washington hospital when his wife reminded him about his commitment to start a club based on the philosophy of Philmore Graham.

"I said, 'I won't be able to do my club,' and my wife said, 'What are you talking about?' You made a promise to Philmore Graham."

In January, 2011, the Rigsbys started a camp with seven students. They now supervise seven camps with almost 100 students teaching life's lessons.

Again, Rigsby said, it goes back to Philmore Graham.

"I am a proud alum of the Omega Boys Club," Rigsby said. "It's been the cornerstone of my life and so many lives out there."

Rigsby said that he told family friend Osby Davis when he started his career that "My goal was to do 20 years in the Army and come back to Vallejo and be the mayor."

It was Davis, of course, who became mayor. And Rigsby remained with the Army 33 years.